Tips For Styling A Country Cottage

It was, and still is, an exciting journey renovating a cottage.  I have loved each and every minute of it. However, like most renovation projects it doesn’t come without its difficulties.

One thing I found particularly frustrating was finding my sense of style.  Styling the cottage was a much bigger challenge than I had anticipated! It’s taken me a year of moving things it and out to start feeling happy with the way it looks.

Here’s some valuable things I’ve learnt on my journey so far:

Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from others

Pinterest, books, interior blogs, interior mags, friends houses, hotels… don’t be afraid to take inspiration from others when trying to find your style.  I regularly refer to Instagram for inspiration.  Here’s some of my favourite accounts: @BlackshoreStyle, @feathering_the_empty_nest, @gold_is_a_neutral, @bradburysattic, @ingewatrobski.

I’ve recently purchased Sally Denning’s book, Relaxed Coastal Style, which is my current interiors bible! I also spend a lot time using Pinterest to find inspiration.

Take your time – don’t force it

For some it comes naturally, for others it takes more time. I was definitely one of those people who took a bit more time to find my style and feel confident in making interiors decisions.  Make sure you take the time to experiment, I was lucky to grow up in a creative household, where we were encouraged to take risks.  Don’t feel you need to spend loads of money either – it’s amazing what you can achieve on a shoestring budget and a bit of creative thinking. Patience is key.

Everything doesn’t have to look the same

I think the most important thing is to be true to yourself.  Some people have one distinct style that runs throughout their house, whilst others have more of an eclectic style, taking influences from many different cultures and influences. I certainly have an eclectic taste when it comes to interiors, I particularly love french, coastal and country.

Old beats new

I love vintage pieces. I really think they help to add character, especially to an old cottage like ours. Don’t get me wrong I love buying new things too, but I love things with history. I’m a huge fan of upcycling/re-purposing and giving things a new lease of life. Whilst upcycling pieces can take a while, once you have done it, and it’s looking beautiful, it can be far more rewarding than if you have bought something new.

Pictured below is some shelving we made out of old scaffold planks. It was super easy to do and I adore the rustic, natural look of the shelving, which really suits an old cottage.

 

What styles/influences do you love? What are your key styling tips?

Lots of love,

Abi xx